The Washington Capitals' All-Star center will play his first game since then-Flames forward Rene Bourque concussed him with an elbow to the head on Jan. 3. Coincidentally—or not—Bourque now plays for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington's opponent Saturday night.

"I'm very excited. It’s going to be fun to play again, it’s a big game for us and we need all those points," Backstrom told reporters after Washington's morning skate on Saturday, where he skated alongside Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson.

Backstrom's return is a major boost for the Capitals, who currently hold the Eastern Conference's eighth playoff seed based on tiebreakers with the Buffalo Sabres, who lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.

Backstrom, who was on pace for another 90-point season before his concussion, passed his baseline test earlier this week, which cleared the way for coach Dale Hunter and Backstrom to decide on a return date.

Backstrom added that he's not concerned about Bourque, who was suspended five games for the elbow then traded on Jan. 12. Capitals winger fought Bourque on Jan. 18.